08/02/2015VATICANFor pope, Jesus urges us to look for the "bread of life", which expresses His loveDuring the Angelus, Francis commented the Gospel of John. The crowds that followed Jesus for material bread did not understand their own "spiritual blindness". Christ "is gift and the one who gives it.” In light of the encounter with Him, the sufferings of human life “will be illuminated." Remembering the Pardon of Assisi, the “Father forgives everyone,” he “always forgives everything”.Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The crowds that followed Jesus for material bread, the fruit of multiplication, "did not understand their own spiritual blindness. Christ urges us to go beyond our own material needs and open up to a...

08/01/2015CHINA – TIBET – IOCAwarding Beijing the Winter Games is an “honour” China does not deserveChinese and Tibetan human rights groups and activists protest against the decision by the International Olympic Committee. The Chinese government “needs a slap in the face”. The IOC shows that the “Olympics are awarded for only for business.” A former dissident arrested in connection with the 2008 games hopes that others will not pay the price he paid in 2008.

08/01/2015SRI LANKAPaanama residents betrayed by the governmentby Melani Manel PereraDespite a new policy adopted last February, villagers have not yet been able to return home. For this reason, they filed a petition with the Human Rights Commission.

08/01/2015IRAQBaghdad Patriarch calls for prayer of peace one year after Nineveh’s fallby Louis Raphael I Sako*Overnight on 6-7 August 2014, Islamic State terrorists seized Christian the villages in the Nineveh Plain and forced out hundreds of thousands of people. A year later, Mar Sako addresses a prayer to the pope and the bishops of the world "to join with us in this sad anniversary."

07/31/2015MYANMARFloods kill scores, displace hundreds of thousandSevere weather has whipped the country since 16 July, especially the north and the west. Villages and mountainous areas are still inaccessible because of landslides and mudslides. The military has been deployed to help the population.

07/31/2015NEPALPetition in favour of the rhino as Nepal’s symbol in lieu of the cowby Christopher SharmaSome members of the constituent assembly have come out against the cow as the nation’s symbol as suggested in the draft constitution currently under discussion. The cow is a Hindu symbol of prosperity, and the monetary value of a cow’s life is the same as that of a human being.

07/31/2015THAILANDLaw banning commercial surrogacy takes effectThe Act to Protect Babies Born through Assisted Reproductive Technologies prohibits commercial surrogacy and the trade of sperm and eggs. The only people entitled to exploit assisted reproductive technology are thai childless, married, heterosexual couples.

07/31/2015PHILIPPINESArtists, donors and activists among 2015 Asia’s “Nobel Prize” winnersThe winners came from India, Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar. The presentation ceremony for Ramon Magsaysay Award, will take place on August 31 in Manila. President of the Foundation says: “There is one thing this year’s Magsaysay laureates all share in common: a greatness of spirit that infuses their crusade for change.”

07/31/2015CHINABeijing to host 2022 Winter OlympicsThe IOC was faced with two starkly different choices: Beijing offers the experience and some venues from the 2008 Olympics, but lacks natural snow or winter conditions, while lesser-known Almaty boasts a mountain setting with plenty of natural snow.

07/31/2015INDIAFollowing rape, abortion allowed for six-month pregnant girl, but the child “is innocent"by Dominic Savio FernandesThe Supreme Court of India will allow a 14-year-old girl to have an abortion, although she is in the 25th week of her pregnancy. As per law, abortion beyond 20 weeks is not allowed. When “rape ends in pregnancy – it is like rubbing salt to injury,” Mumbai’s auxiliary bishop told AsiaNews. However, “A child conceived by rape is innocent.” For him, “The child should be allowed to be born, and then be entrusted to an orphanage.”

07/31/2015JAPANBishop of Niigata hopes to see Japan build peace through development, not weaponsby Tarcisio Isao KikuchiThe prelate, who chairs Caritas Asia, reflects on the meaning of peace before the ten days during which the Japanese Church commemorates the carnage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Whilst civil society groups oppose the abolition of Article 9, the prime minister speaks of urgent requests from the international community. The history of the country and its involvement with developing nations are its real contributions to human dignity and harmony in the world.

07/31/2015EGYPT – SAUDI ARABIACairo and Riyadh to develop military and economic relations"The two sides stressed the need to exert all efforts to boost security and stability in the region, and to work together to protect Arab national security," including an Arab military force, the ‘Cairo Declaration’ states.

CHINAWenzhou: 90-year-old bishop and 26 priests protest against cross demolitionsby Joseph YuanThis is not the first time that the old bishop and his priests speak out against the demolition campaign against crosses and churches, which has touched more than 400 buildings. During the protest, police tried to disperse the group, which sought to submit a petition. The faithful recite a Crown of the Divine Mercy is in support of the Chinese Church. In Lishui, churches are expected to be torn down by 31 August.